Apple is having another press conference on the 28th and rumors are flying. There are the traditional ones such as the iTablet and the Video iPod. These have been spurred on by recent patent applications by Apple for touchscreen interfaces. And now comes another secret shot of a preproduction model for the Video iPod which is kinda convincing, at least compared to all the fakes that sprout up at these sort of things.
All that and so far I’m not impressed. Lets be honest, a Video iPod is going to be stupid expensive. The 30 Gig iPod is just too damn much as it is and that’s without the full size LCD and the processing power necessary for the touchscreen display. It’s kinda like a new sports car coming out, hey it looks cool, but even if I have the money for it, I still can’t afford it. So it’s kinda of a non-issue. I’d like the price of the 4 Gig Nano to come down to something reasonable as well. Maybe they’ll bump the sizes to bring us back to where we were with the iPod Mini. (I probably won’t get a nano until it can store as much as a mini.)
What I really want is for the iBook to finally go live. I want it cheap and I want it durable. The rumor is that it’s going to be a 13inch widescreen which could be nice. It’ll still be small and the wide format will make the keyboard fit better. I’m wondering if they’re going to include the iSight in the el cheapo iBooks too. It’d be a nice feature to add, but since they charge close to $200 for the iSight in stores it’s not exactly the way to go to keep costs down. basically, the iBook will be a neutered version of the MacBook Pro (oh for the love of all that is Good and Holy, why did they call it a MacBook? Ugly, ugly name.) which means they have to wow us with form factor or piss everyone off that bought a MacBook. Which wouldn’t be good. But that’s the beauty of the Mac loyalist, they can never stay mad. 
Of the established brands, what can we expect to see???? iMac and ProBook (MUCH better name) have already been updated and are unlikely to get even at most a speed bump. Which leaves the iBook (so we take a ProBook fetus and add alcohol to the gestation tank, viola!), Mac Mini and PowerMac.
The PowerMac (will they want to drop the “Power” since they’re no longer using the PowerPC?? Will they call it a MacMac?? I’m guessing “Mac Pro”.) is unlikely I think as those that use it don’t really care until all the apps (PHOTOSHOP!) are ported to Intel. Which leaves the Mac Mini.
Rumors state that the Mini is getting an overhaul, but nothing I’ve read so far seems to indicate that Apple is willing to admit that these things truly belong in the livingroom. The Mini is the perfect block against Microsoft’s Media Center, but Apple keeps dodging the question like a Bush press secretary. The mythical built-in iPod connector has supposedly been stripped out at the last minuet which just doesn’t make sense as there are many people who would buy it for that feature alone.
My guess is that his is going to be a one or two product introduction. April 1st will be Apple’s 30th anniversary as a company and I’m betting they’ll want to save the best stuff for that. Sooo….. The iBook is a real contender since it won’t have the wow of a ProBook. But the invitation hints at “fun” which calls the iPod as the big deal. Plus that gives Steve the chance to brag come 04/01 about how many have been sold by then.
Truth be told, no one really knows what’s going to happen. But it’s Apple and they set the bar propoganda pretty high so if I’m not wow’ed, I’m not happy. Oh, and I have to stay wow’ed. Once the Reality Distortion Field evaporates, I still want to think it’s cool.
[Listening to: Dub Gussett by Leftfield off the album Rhythm & Stealth (4:51)]
